Hanzel Manners: Guyanese impact positive on Nevis society

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – “WHAT is the real impact of the Guyanese population on Nevis? My personal view is that it is good for Nevis, as of now.” 

These were the words of the former Chairman of the Bank of Nevis, Hanzel Manners, to members of the Guyanese Association of Nevis at their Independence Awards Ceremony held Sunday night (May 31) at the Red Cross building in Charlestown.

Manners explained that Nevis is generally lacking in people. Referring to the substantial number of Guyanese settling there and the attention they have been attracting lately, he said a country needs people since they stimulate economic activity.
“People need to eat, drink, visit the doctor and generally spend money.”

He continued: “From what I hear, Guyanese also impact work standards. Some people tell me that Guyanese work well, they are business-like and they come with skills. Some come with training…and if you really want some quick work done – call a Guyanese. You’ve come with a good reputation.”

Manners said he is not fearful like some people might be that Guyanese are overburdening the social system. 

“That could be one impact of an arriving population: it puts pressure on the local services – hospital, schools etc. However, I don’t believe we are at that stage and the addition is good. Of course, there could be another side – there are responsibilities placed on newcomers.”

Manners, who is also a former Director of the Bank of Nevis, said these responsibilities include the expectation that they must contribute to the society, integrate with the local community and keep away from crime. 

Commenting on the contribution made by Guyanese, Manners said Guyanese cannot be faulted for not working and are not getting overly involved in crime. He added that things also seem to be working well with integration. He listed, as an example, the entering of a Guyana team in the current female cricket competition run by the Nevis Cricket Association.

Earlier in his address, Manners said that it was difficult to ascertain the number of Guyanese on the island and there is a responsibility on the authorities to document and monitor newcomers. He however pointed out that newcomers should also take the responsibility to ensure they are properly documented and to ensure that immigration rules and regulations are followed.
He opined that Nevis could learn from other islands like Barbados, which recently started a campaign to regularise documentation of immigrants on immigration law. 

“We are at a stage where we can decide that whatever the laws are we can cooperate with it so we would not end up having the problems they are having at this time.” 

Manners went on to talk about the law which allows immigrants who are on the island for at least one year to vote in general elections. He explained that this was huge power placed in the hands of newcomers; power which must be used wisely, sensibly and most of all, responsibly. 

The professional banker also had some advice to offer on finances. 

“Save for a rainy day. It seems to me the people who suffer most during hard times are the people who have no reserves or savings. The first thing to point out is to save.”

His second recommendation was to avoid lavish expenditure: “It goes hand in hand with savings. In other words, some of the things you are accustomed spending on have to be shelved for the time being – until the economic crises ends.” 

Manners also urged the gathering to diversify assets: “In simple terms, do not put all your eggs in one basket. All of us should. It means you should split your money up – buy shares, put some in a fixed deposit, buy a treasury bill.” He pointed to the recent Bernard Madoff scandal in the United States as a prime example of investing all of one’s money in one scheme that went wrong.

The association used Sunday’s ceremony to honour nine of its founding members who have all been on Nevis for at least 19 years. Those honoured were Banmattee Ram, her husband, Parikhan Ram; Debra Fraser, Dexter English, Eric Singh, Lester Truman, Noel Dalton, Richard English and Sunita Browne. Fraser’s plaque was collected by her husband Alvin Fraser, while Browne was unrepresented.

Other features of the evening included a poem by Jermaine Dalton and dances by Cleanda Roberts and Natasha Harrinarain.